Shot New Windsor man listed in serious condition

A 45-year-old New Windsor man remained in serious and stable condition in the Maryland Shock Trauma Center last night after he was shot in the chest Sunday by state police, who said he pointed a rifle at them while he was holding his wife hostage.

John Meredith Carter is under 24-hour police guard at the hospital.

Maryland State Police in Westminster say a man handcuffed his estranged wife to a pipe in the bathroom of their apartment in the 100 block of Main St. and threatened to kill her, holding a 30-30 rifle to her head Sunday night.

Police said they were called to the second-floor apartment about 10 p.m. for a domestic disturbance. Troopers First Class Shawn Miller, Ed Humphries and Phillip Henry, the former resident trooper in New Windsor, responded.

Troopers said that when they arrived, they found a friend of the man trying to talk him into releasing his wife.

Troopers Miller and Humphries were able to enter the house and start up the stairs unnoticed. Trooper Miller was carrying a 12-gauge shotgun.

When the troopers reached the top of the stairs, they said, a man approached them on the landing and pointed the rifle at them. Trooper Humphries grabbed the barrel, but the gunman pulled it from his grasp and aimed it at the officers, saying, "I'm going to kill you," they reported.

Trooper Miller fired his shotgun, hitting the man in the chest.

Trooper Humphries, a 16-year veteran, was treated at Carroll County General Hospital for a cut on the hand that he suffered when he grabbed the barrel of the rifle. He was released.

Mary Jane Carter, 45, was not injured, police said.

Trooper Miller, a nine-year veteran of the state police, was placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal review of the shooting.

Police said they recovered the 30-30 rifle, with one live round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine.

The couple had separated about a week ago.

According to Carroll District Court records, Mrs. Carter told police her husband dragged her by the hair out of the New Windsor 7-Eleven store, where she works, about 1 a.m. Wednesday, knocking over displays of food and magazines.

When police arrived, Mr. Carter was pulling his wife by the hair out of a stranger's car, where she had gone for refuge, according to charging documents.

He was arrested and charged with assault, battery, malicious destruction and disorderly conduct. A District Court commissioner released him on personal recognizance later in the morning.

A protective order was granted by District Judge JoAnn Ellinghaus-Jones.

She ordered Mr. Carter to stay away from the couple's apartment, his wife and the New Windsor 7-Eleven. A full hearing on a longer protective order is scheduled for tomorrow.

Yesterday, state police charged Mr. Carter in Sunday's incident with three counts each of assault with intent to murder, attempted first-degree murder and assault on the troopers and his wife.

Additional counts were filed of reckless endangerment, assault and battery, false imprisonment, breaking and entering, trespassing and violation of the order to vacate the apartment.